High-End Buyer's Guide, 2005 AMD/Microsoft Tech Tour and More!

"The goal of this guide is to outline an entire high-end computer system for around $3,000. This includes the internal hardware, input devices, monitor and speakers (everything but an OS). The components we have chosen for this system are what we consider to be great products with the best bang for the buck. Depending on your individual needs, you may prefer to swap out different components in order to focus more on gaming, multimedia or multitasking. While we will recommend specific components throughout the article, we will also point out some options that you may want to consider as well."

"This year's Tech Tour offered a really special treat for those attending. AMD, together with Microsoft and Asus made available a bundle that could be purchased during the event for just $250.00. Included in the bundle was an Asus A8N-E motherboard, AMD Athlon 64 3200 processor and a copy of Windows XP Professional x64 Edition. The full retail value of the three items is way higher than the $250.00 that AMD was charging. The bundle is designed to let attendees build an Athlon 64 demo systems and is strictly not for resale. However, if you see this combo listed on eBay, you know where it came from."

"When we first evaluated EVGA's 6800 PCIe graphics adapter, one of the things we noted was their lack of engineering efforts to make the graphics adapters something above NVIDIA's specified design. There just wasn't anything exclusive about EVGA's product line, but that's about to change, thanks to EVGA's already implemented heatsink and fan combo on its 7800GTX. Moreover, EVGA is taking it a step further by working on its ACS cooling design that could define new standards in graphics card cooling, assuming it performs well."

"Aspire have released quite a multi-function enclosure. Overall the styling of the case is very nice. The three analog gauges on the front not only provide a good amount of information, but also a nice graphic feature. The blue black and silver color scheme really work, and the inclusion of the led fans provide a nice glow in the dark look."